Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) in Foundations/Foundations Director

The Department of Art & Design in the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth invites applications for a tenure track Assistant Professor in Foundations / Foundations Director with a starting date and appointment of September 1, 2025. The faculty member appointed to this position will teach courses in Core (Foundations), which may include Freshmen Seminar, Drawing, 2-D and 3-D design, and Digital Essentials, and will take a leadership role in developing and managing the Foundations curriculum. The successful candidate will have a thorough knowledge of best practices in current Foundations pedagogy, and a clear vision of the scope and purpose of the overall curriculum.

We are seeking a faculty member with an active creative practice in one or more of the studio and design concentrations we offer in our art and design areas. The successful candidate should be able to teach at least two of four studio courses (Drawing, 2-D, 3-D, and Digital), as well as Freshmen Seminar in our core curriculum, and occasionally, other courses in the department that meet the candidate’s research expertise.  

The successful candidate will teach largely undergraduate courses, conduct a program of creative and/or scholarly work, contribute to curriculum development and other aspects of the intellectual life of the department, serve as advisor for undergraduate students in coordination with professional advisors of the College, provide appropriate professional service, and perform other duties as assigned. There will also be a possibility of working with MFA students in CVPA if deemed appropriate.

As Foundations Director, the successful candidate will schedule and staff courses in this area in consultation with faculty and the Associate Dean. The Director will work with the Foundations Committee to periodically review the Program and design and implement changes as deemed necessary.

Minimum Qualifications

• Terminal degree (MFA) required in art, design, or closely related field with an active record of creative scholarship consistent with the expectations of a tenure track position at a research university.
• Minimum of two years of post-graduate school teaching experience at the college level as the instructor of record. Evidence of teaching effectiveness required.
• Exceptional interdisciplinary art/teaching skills with a strong creative practice with a focus in one or more areas in studio art or design.

Preferred Qualifications

• Instructor of record in at least two of the Studio Foundations areas.
• Experience teaching various aspects of a Foundations curriculum.
• Experience working across disciplinary boundaries and in community-engaged settings.
• Three or more years of full-time teaching experience post-graduate school.
• Conversant in art history and contemporary visual culture from a global perspective.
• Experience in academic leadership, including at the departmental, College, and/or University level.
• Experience working with first-generation college students.

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) at UMass Dartmouth has over 500 students and is the flagship visual and performing arts college in the UMass system. Offering an art school experience within a four-year, national tier 1 research university setting, CVPA offers 16 concentrations in Art and Design, Art History, Art Education, and Music. Centrally located between Boston, Providence, Cape Cod, and Newport, UMass Dartmouth’s enrollment comprises 8,650 undergraduate and graduate students across more than 100 bachelor and master’s degree programs. The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and inclusive faculty and staff committed to excellence in teaching and research.

SALARY: $75,000 - $85,000

UMass Dartmouth offers exciting benefits such as:

• 75% Employer-Paid Health Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• State Pension Retirement Plan
• Optional Retirement Savings Plans
• Tuition Credit (Employee, Spouse, & Dependents)
• Twelve (12) paid holidays
• And More!

Benefits for Benefits for Faculty Federation  

To apply please submit the following: A cover letter outlining the candidate’s qualifications, experience, interest in the position, and dedication to foundations; a curriculum vitae, complete contact information for three professional references; a link to web-based portfolio of the candidate’s work; a link to a web-based portfolio of student work in foundations classes; a one-page document outlining a teaching philosophy; a list of courses taught and a sample syllabus.

To ensure full consideration, all application documents must be submitted. The review of applications will be ongoing until the position is filled.